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St
Boniface, Hellesdon, Norwich

Hellesdon is a
large north-western suburb of Norwich. The original
village is still discernible beyond Hellesdon Hospital on
the Drayton Road, but the estate has sprawled northwards
over the last half century, and is now home to more than
16,000 people. It is pleasant enough, if a little
characterless, and buildings like this one are a great
adornment to it.

This
handsome Catholic church sits in Brabazon Road.
It was opened in 2001, and was built on the site
of its predecessor. It is one of two
purpose-built chapels of ease in the parish of St George, the other
being Our Lady
Mother of God on the far side of the
city. The style is neo-rural vernacular, as if it
had some former agricultural purpose. The central
cupola lends it a slightly Eastern frisson.

Of all the
2000-odd churches I have visited in the last ten
years or so, this was the first where I did not
try the door. I assumed that it would be locked,
in common with its sister chapel and, in my
experience, its mother church. And if it had been
open, there was a chance I might run in to the
Parish Priest I had encountered at St George the
previous year, which is not an experience I hope
to repeat in a hurry.